Wisdom teeth tend to make themselves known when something is wrong. Pain that concentrates at the very back of your mouth, gum tissue that swells or bleeds easily around a tooth that has only partially come in, a shifting bite, or infections that keep returning in the same spot are all reasons to come in for an evaluation at our Staten Island office. Some patients arrive without any discomfort at all, only to discover on imaging that their third molars are positioned in a way that will almost certainly cause problems within a year or two.
Our team of board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Dr. Nancy Herbst, Dr. David Farkas, and Dr. Hillel Kaye, has more than 40 years of combined experience with third molar extractions across the full range of complexity, from cleanly erupted teeth to deep bony impactions that share space with the inferior alveolar nerve. The goal of every consultation is the same: read your anatomy carefully, present your options honestly, and remove what needs to come out as comfortably and predictably as possible.
When Should You Consider Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most patients fall into one of three categories. The first group is symptomatic. You may be dealing with a dull ache that travels along your jaw, swelling at the back of your gums, a bad taste from food trapping under a partial flap of tissue, or the kind of throbbing that wakes you up at night. The second group is preventive. Your dentist has flagged your third molars on a routine panoramic X-ray, the angle is wrong, and there is no realistic path for them to erupt cleanly. The third group is orthodontic. Your treatment team wants the wisdom teeth removed before they apply pressure to teeth that have just been straightened.
Pericoronitis, which is a recurring infection around a partially erupted tooth, is one of the most common reasons we see patients in their late teens and twenties. Crowding, cyst formation around an unerupted crown, and damage to the second molar are others. If you are unsure whether your situation warrants surgery, the first visit is always an evaluation, not a commitment.
Imaging and Surgical Planning
Removal of impacted third molars is among the most common procedures performed in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and careful preoperative imaging is what separates a smooth case from a complicated one. Most consultations begin with a panoramic radiograph, which captures the full arch and shows root anatomy, angulation, and the relationship of each tooth to the mandibular nerve canal and the maxillary sinus. When the panoramic image suggests the roots sit unusually close to the nerve, our doctors order a cone-beam CT (CBCT) for a three-dimensional view before scheduling surgery. A 2023 clinical review of imaging in third molar surgery published through the National Institutes of Health describes how this layered imaging approach lowers the risk of nerve injury and makes the surgical plan more predictable. We use the same protocol on every Staten Island patient who may need a complex extraction.
The Wisdom Tooth Removal Process
Wisdom teeth are typically removed during the late teens or early twenties, when the roots are still developing and the surrounding bone is less dense. Both factors make extraction faster and recovery shorter.
The procedure begins with local anesthesia to numb the area around each tooth. Most patients also choose an additional layer of sedation for comfort, including nitrous oxide, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. We discuss sedation options for Staten Island patients in detail at your consultation so you can make the decision that fits your anxiety level, medical history, and the complexity of your case.
If a tooth remains beneath the gum line and is embedded in your jawbone, our doctors may remove a small portion of the overlying bone to access it. To minimize how much bone is removed, the tooth is often sectioned into smaller pieces and removed in segments. Once the tooth is out, the site is cleaned and sutured. Healing begins immediately, and your surgical team sends you home with a clear set of post-operative instructions, prescription medication if appropriate, and a follow-up plan. Our post-surgical care resources walk through what each day of recovery should look like. Patients with questions before their procedure can reach our Staten Island office at 718-948-2900.
Benefits of Wisdom Tooth Removal
The benefits depend on your situation, but there are several outcomes patients consistently report after extraction:
- Relief from chronic pain, jaw pressure, and headaches caused by impacted teeth pushing on adjacent structures.
- Lower risk of infection, gum disease, and decay at the back of the mouth where third molars are difficult to clean properly.
- Protection of the second molars from damage caused by an angled or partially erupted third molar.
- Reduced chance of cyst or tumor formation around an unerupted tooth left in the bone.
- Stability of orthodontic results when wisdom teeth are removed before they push neighboring teeth out of alignment.
Our doctors will walk you through the benefits and risks specific to your situation during your consultation so you can decide on a timeline that makes sense.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Staten Island, NY at Legacy Oral Surgery
Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common procedures we perform at Legacy Oral Surgery, and the consistency of our outcomes comes from doing it carefully every time. Dr. Nancy Herbst, Dr. David Farkas, and Dr. Hillel Kaye bring more than 40 years of combined oral and maxillofacial surgery experience to every patient, and our Staten Island office on Richmond Avenue is equipped with the same diagnostic imaging, in-office sedation, and surgical technology we use at our New Jersey locations. Whether you are coming in for evaluation, a second opinion, or scheduled extraction, our doctors will explain what we see, present your options, and answer your questions before any procedure is scheduled.
If you are dealing with symptoms or have been referred for an evaluation, our team is ready to help. Request a consultation through our online contact form to get started at our Staten Island office.
